Tight Junctions as a Key for Pathogens Invasion in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Tight junctions play a major role in maintaining the integrity and impermeability of the intestinal barrier. As such, they act as an ideal target for pathogens to promote their translocation through the intestinal mucosa and invade their host. Different strategies are used by pathogens, aimed at directly destabilizing the junctional network or modulating the different signaling pathways involved in the modulation of these junctions. After a brief presentation of the organization and modulation of tight junctions, we provide the state of the art of the molecular mechanisms leading to permeability breakdown of the gut barrier as a consequence of tight junctions' attack by pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

Automated summary

Tight junctions are crucial for maintaining the integrity and impermeability of the intestinal barrier, making them an ideal target for pathogens to breach the barrier. Pathogens use various strategies to destabilize the junctional network or modulate signaling pathways to attack the tight junctions and compromise gut barrier permeability.